Belfast Healthy Cities

World Health Organization (WHO) European Healthy Cities Network

The WHO European Healthy Cities Network consists of cities around the WHO European Region that are committed to health and sustainable development. They are also linked through national, regional, metropolitan and thematic Healthy Cities networks. A city joins the WHO European Healthy Cities Network based on criteria that are renewed every five years.

Each five-year phase focuses on core priority themes and is launched with a political declaration and a set of strategic goals. The overarching goal of the current Phase VI (2014–2018) is implementing Health 2020 at the local level.

The following two strategic goals of Health 2020 provide the overarching umbrella of Phase VI:

improving health for all and reducing health inequities; and

improving leadership and participatory governance for health.

Both strategic goals reinforce the strong standing commitment of the WHO European Network to addressing equity and the social determinants of health and striving to improve governance for health and promote health in all policies.

WHO Healthy Cities Network bringing wider experience and best practice to Belfast

Belfast Healthy Cities reinforces that health is a responsibility for all sectors, which is key to addressing the social determinants of health and inequalities in health.

Having been designated to each of the six phases of the Healthy Cities network, Belfast has introduced new ways of working and concepts to the city. Belfast Healthy Cities has had significant influence on policy and action in working with other sectors and departments in the areas of health, inequities and well-being.

Belfast Healthy Cities provides best practice and evidence on how the health of a city can be improved and this has influenced shaping of health and well-being strategy in Belfast and beyond.